Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
all
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From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
AndeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
angular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
arrival
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From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
bony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
bowed
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From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
brushed
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From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
business
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From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
ceremony
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
comenounUS /come/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
conversational
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
corn-cob
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
counter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
deep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
door
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From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
employed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
end
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From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
engaged
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From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
entrance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
gave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
grave
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From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
guests
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From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
hall
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
Hart's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
moustache
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
occupation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
peaceful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
pipe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
removed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
Set
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
slowly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
solo
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
sonorous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
stairway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
steep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
Tavern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
throughnounUS /ˈthrough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
transacted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A steep, angular staircase took up one end of the room.
upper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Set in beneath its upper turn was the counter over which the business of the house was transacted, and behind this a man was engaged in the peaceful occupation of smoking a corn-cob pipe.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading An open door to the right of the stairway gave entrance to a room from which came the sound of a deep, sonorous voice, employed in what turned out to be a conversational solo.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The little hall in which he found himself was the "office" through which all men must pass who come as guests to Hart's Tavern.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He removed the pipe, brushed his long moustache with the back of a bony hand, and bowed slowly and with grave ceremony to the arrival.
